“I appreciate the sentiment, but he’s my problem to take care of.”
“Be careful,” I whisper. “Your future is on the line.”
“He’s going to try to take that from me,” he calmly replies. “But I’m not going to let him.”
“You should hear from Yale in early January. As long as you get an offer, he can’t take that from you.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Vander replies. “He’s an alumnus, and he has contacts. He can pretty much do whatever he wants. I wouldn’t be surprised if he already knows I didn’t submit an application for Yale Law.”
“The deadline for submissions isn’t until February. He doesn’t need to know you submitted an early application for the art program.”
Vander shrugs, and a grimace sweeps over his face. I frown. Any movement that shifts his ribs seems to hurt, and he needs to remain still. “He’ll be on alert after discovering my art studio today.”
Glancing over my shoulder, I check the coast is clear before I thread my fingers through his hair. “He will have seen the pictures of me.”
“I know.” Air expels from his mouth. “Why do you think I want you to stay away from him? The paintings and drawings prove nothing except I’m a little obsessed with you. He won’t read any more into it unless you start getting all up in his business, and then he’ll suspect it’s more than a one-sided crush. I don’t want him using you to get back at me.”
Greg will attempt to use me to hurt his son. Of that, I’m in no doubt. But fuck him. He can try, but he won’t succeed. I am done with assholes trying to push me around and underestimating me. I don’t know how I can rescue Vander’s future, but I’m damn well going to try. “I’ll stay out of his way,” I promise. “As much as I can when we work in the same law firm.”
“I’m glad Mom is in rehab and he can’t use her for a punching bag.”
He just used you instead. “Diana is in rehab?” I ask, and he nods. “That’s great, Vander. I hope she sticks it out and it helps.”
“Me too.”
We sink into silence because there is nothing more to be said. Taking one of the ice packs, I hold it to his swollen eye as we stare at one another, tension building in the small bathroom until it feels like it might explode. With my free hand, I stroke his arm, up and down, in what I hope is a comforting gesture. Vander’s hand moves to the back of my leg, and I lean a little closer, careful not to press against his sore ribs.
We pull apart when we hear footsteps approaching. Stella confirms the guest room is ready, and we help Vander upstairs, getting him settled into the bed. Vander phones Jimmy while I go to the kitchen to grab some water and pain pills and to heat up a plate of lasagna because I’m pretty sure he hasn’t eaten.
“Jimmy, Crusher, and a couple of the other guys are en route to the carriage house to box up my stuff and salvage whatever is left of my studio,” he says when I walk in carrying a tray table. “They know to bubble wrap the shit out of the paintings. I’ll call the local storage facility in the morning and rent one of their units.”
“There is no rush. We have empty space in the garage now Curtis is gone, taking his car and his tools with him.” I unfold the tray legs and position it over Vander’s lap.
“How are you holding up?” he asks, tucking my hair behind my ear.
“I’m fine. Just worried about the kids.” I’m going through a whole host of emotions, but I’m not sorry Curtis is gone. I’m relieved he’s out of my hair. His parents are devastated and disappointed in their son, but they were quick to offer me their support, which means a lot. My friends have been rallying around me too, and though I’m struggling to sleep and eat, and concerned about the future, I know this is just a transitionary phase. My life has altered almost overnight, and I need to rethink everything I thought I had mapped out for the future. Uncertainty is unsettling, but I know I’ll be fine in time.
“West is taking it hard,” Vander admits, confirming something I already know.
“Stella is too, but she’s better at keeping up a front. Ridge cries himself to sleep every night and it’s heartbreaking.”
“I want to be here for you, but I don’t know how,” he says, picking up a fork.
“Just continue being there for West. That’s the best way you can help me right now.”
28
VANDER
Ispend an uncomfortable night at Kendall’s house. Every time I turn over in my sleep, pain stabs me along my side, crushing my lungs and making breathing difficult. I wake gasping for air with sweat plastering hair to my brow. There is no question of me attending school even though I hate the absence on my record. “Mom called the principal,” West confirms when he stops into the room to check on me before he leaves. “And she’s taken a personal day from work to take care of you. I offered to stay home, but she wouldn’t let me.”
“I don’t want anyone taking time off work or school. I can take care of myself. It’s not like I’m completely incapacitated.”
“You know my mom. She’d never leave you alone in that state.”
“It looks worse than it is.”
West chuckles. “Bullshit, but I get it. I fucking hate getting injured and having to limit what I can do.”
